Open Letter to the President of the Republic of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenka

We strongly condemn the continuing wave of detentions and harassment of peaceful protesters, journalists, human rights defenders,
civil society activists, anarchists and opposition party members in Belarus. More than 250 people have been detained since
3 March, and several detentions have been carried out with excessive use of force. On the eve of planned demonstrations in
Minsk and several other places in Belarus on 25 March, we urge President Lukashenka to abide human rights principles. Photo by Andrey Liankevich.

Most of the detentions and harassment are linked to participation in peaceful protests demanding the cancellation of Presidential
Decree No. 3, the so-called “social parasite” legislation, which imposes a tax on unemployed people in Belarus. Decree No.
3 obligates citizens to work a specific number of days or pay a special duty to the State under threat of arrest. This is
contrary to Art. 41 of the Belarusian Constitution and violates international human rights law.

According to reports from Belarusian and international human rights organizations, as of 22 March 2017 more than 250 people
have been detained since 3 March 2017, including at least 31 journalists. At least 110 people have been sentenced to 3-15
days of administrative arrest. Many of them remain in detention, while others have been subject to different forms of harassment.

We strongly condemn the fact that several detentions of peaceful protesters at different places across Belarus have been carried
out with the excessive use of force by Belarusian security officers.

Several Belarusian organizations have announced a demonstration that will take place in Minsk and in other cities in Belarus
on 25 March 2017. We are deeply concerned about the physical and psychological integrity of the participants of these protest
marches.

As the president of Belarus we urge you:

- to respect the right to peaceful assembly and expression

- to ensure that there are no obstructions to the exercising of these rights in Belarus, including in relation to the planned
demonstration on 25 March 2017 in Minsk and in other cities across the country

- to guarantee in all circumstances the physical and psychological integrity of all peaceful protesters at the demonstration
on 25 March 2017 in Minsk as well as at all other peaceful demonstrations across Belarus

- to refrain from the use of excessive force by security officers on 25 March 2017 in Minsk as well as at all other peaceful
demonstrations across Belarus

- to ensure that journalists are able to fully exercise their professional duties, including during peaceful demonstrations

- to immediately and unconditionally release all protesters, journalists, human rights defenders, civil society activists
and opposition members who have been detained in connection with the current wave of demonstrations solely for peacefully
exercising their right to freedom of assembly and expression

- to immediately stop the persecution, harassment and intimidation of those who exercise their right to freedom of assembly,
expression and association and ensure these rights to all Belarusian citizens

- to abolish Presidential Decree No. 3 since it violates international human rights law